Eminem Relapse Review

A lot has happened in hip hop since Eminem’s last album came out five years ago. And a lot has happened in Shady’s personal life- with his best friend Proof shot dead the rapper became addicted to all manner of prescription pills. Hence the album’s overriding theme.

It’s a surprise then that two of the finest tracks on Relapse return to long time preoccupations- or as he calls Mariah Carey the 'permanant fixture in my lyrical mixture.' Bagpipes From Baghdad is the song that's been causing Nick Cannon sleepless nights but also the track where his rhymes sound most alive. On that song and Stay Wide Awake the Detroit native uses a new faster vocal style- which thankfully shies away from his high pitched whine used too frequently in recent years.

In My Mom he returns to his nightmare childhood and adds blame to his mother for recent drug problems. Em' is certainly self aware though and admits "I know you're probably tired of hearing about my mom," before faking a cry.

Eminem has toned nothing down- continuing his Christopher Reeve obsession, love of fart jokes and violent threats (on 3am). He also talks about being abused himself on the aptly titled Insane. The track makes uncomfortable listening as Marshall details child rape in forensic detail. It's like one of those documentaries about paedophiles which is nearly too hard to watch.

As on his last disc Encore Slim runs out of things to say on a few songs- particularly Must Be The Ganja and We Made You- resorting to celeb-baiting and vague threats. The thing is he still says nothing better than Lil Wayne, T.I or his protégé 50 Cent.

On production duties Dr Dre is back to his bass-bumping best- from the west coast piano tinkle on Crack' through the Scottish stomp of Bagpipes’ to Underground's off-kilter darkness. R&B and pop acts are sure to be knocking at the Doc's door soon.

The album peaks when Eminem is raw, open, honest and hurting. On Beautiful and Déjà Vu he is self-pitying but also at his confessional best. And while he never reaches the heights of his Marshall Mathers LP Relapse is enough to confirm the return of one of the most important MCs in the game.